The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Huskies start slow, pull away from Pirates
NO. 2 UCONN 70 SETON HALL 49
STORRS — Call it an emotional letdown. Call it a lack of energy. Call it whatever you like.
The fact is, in its first game since knocking off top-ranked South Carolina in overtime, No. 2 UConn looked nothing like its normal, dominant self.
The Huskies didn’t shoot particularly well, didn’t pass well, turned the ball over too many times, and let Seton Hall hang around way longer than they would’ve liked.
When it mattered, though, they were able to overcome a slow start and outlast the Pirates 70-49 on Wednesday night at Gampel Pavilion.
“Offensively we looked sluggish. I guess that was to be expected a little bit,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said.
The Huskies (15-1) trailed by one at halftime, but finally found separation in the third quarter. A basket by Evina Westbrook marked a 12-0 run and pushed the lead to 47-37. Seton Hall closed the third quarter down 49-43, but didn’t get any closer.
Freshman Paige Bueckers paced UConn with 23 points. She was 10-of-19 from the floor, including 3 of 6 from 3, and surpassed the 20-point mark for the sixth straight game. Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 15 points and 13 rebounds, and Westbrook contributed 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
“Us being tired is not an excuse,” Westbrook said. “They’re tired and they’re fatigued as well, and they came out with a lot of energy. Kudos to them, but have to be ready to play, especially on our home court . ...
“Everyone just because of what it says on our jersey is going to come at us 10 times harder than other teams.”
Former Husky Andra Espinoza-Hunter and Mya Jackson scored 15 points apiece to lead the Pirates (9-4).
The Huskies started slow, missing six of its first seven
shots as Seton Hall jumped out to a 9-2 lead. They had only 10 points in the opening quarter, and trailed by as many as 11 in the second. But they answered that with a 10-0 run.
UConn jumped ahead for the first time at 24-23 on a layup by Aubrey Griffin, but Seton Hall regained a 27-26 lead going into halftime.
Turnovers plagued the Huskies early and often. They had 13 in the first half and 18 for the game.
Christyn Williams’ struggles also continued. The junior missed all six shots she attempted and failed to score.
Note: Paige Bueckers, Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Christyn Williams were among 30 players named to the midseason team for the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year. UConn was the only school with three players on the list.
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